Robin McKinley

The Dunwich Horror is just District of Columbia humidity with little short legs.

ROFL!!!

And Deep Ones are just DC residents who've been standing outside in the summer heat a bit too long.

[Updated on: Wed, 29 October 2008 22:50]

Why is it too much to ask just to have a few basic things work?

Almost 30 years ago, we--the staff of a small data processing department--were expressing fairly similar sentiments to the XXX Computer Co. rep from whom we had bought new equipment. His response was, and I quote, "You want it all on a silver platter?" What does this tell you about the wonderful world of computers? (And yes, we DID want it all on a silver platter. Especially considering what we had PAID for the new equipment.)

I wonder if whoever answers the phone tomorrow morning at Computer Man Central will scream and run away when he hears my voice?

Not as long as you keep paying the bill.

The despairing mantra I used ironically when the hellhounds were at their worst was ‘a hungry dog will eat’. No it won’t, if it thinks food will give it a stomach-ache, or if it has a stomach-ache already.

In my own experience with both bad eaters and sick dogs, healthy bad eaters will eat enough to stop feeling hungry--which may by no means be enough to keep them in good weight, and may cause you to pull out your hair, but it's enough for them to stay comfortable. Sick dogs might be hungry, but when their noses hit the dish they just look more miserable and turn away. I'm sure there's elements of both going on with the hellhounds. Possibly if you found some new food with no history and started them on it once they get stable, they might be, what--happier? less suspicious?--eaters.

It’s a bit like letting your dog win at tug of war occasionally.

I agree, I've never had a problem result from this, although some trainers insist that one should either refrain from tug of war or insist on winning if you play. I don't think Danes are an especially dominant or hierarchical breed, but I have had two definitely dominant individuals, and neither one has thought that just because she wins at tug-of-war occasionally, that means that she is now in charge. I think they know when you *let* them win, or get bored and stop playing. And they definitely know that you aren't a dog and don't follow the same rules. Dogs are a lot brighter about social interaction than many trainers give them credit for.

[Updated on: Thu, 30 October 2008 02:10]

[Updated on: Thu, 30 October 2008 01:48]

[Updated on: Thu, 30 October 2008 05:34]

[Updated on: Thu, 30 October 2008 15:04] by Moderator

Susan from Athens wrote on Thu, 30 October 2008 10:50

southdowner wrote on Thu, 30 October 2008 11:32 but it is such a sensible delusion... ::wails:: Delusions always seem sensible to the deluded, but remain, nevertheless unreachable dreams. Dream on for a land where computers work all the time as they should, particularly when you are under pressure.

I for one intend to cherish my delusions of a sensible world - and intend to be unreasonably angry whenever I'm proven wrong by a mean, malicious computer misbehaving itself!

Which automatically puts me under pressure, by the way... I remember an occasion at my last job in a library when the computer suddenly decided to take a break. I had one lady on one side explaining something about a book - she had that book at home, but this was a newer edition, and she would borrow this now, and return the other later - while I was trying not to panic - and on the other another lady who also wanted to borrow something. "I just want to borrow this book" (or magazine, or whatever it was). "Yes", I told her, "but that's exactly what I can't do just now" - "Why is the library open then?" she asked. I stared at her. "It happened just now", I said calmly. "Oh, I'm sorry", she said, looked down, and sounded at least a little apologetic...

Not to mention the times when the user is malfunctioning...Once I hit the wrong keys and everything - to my horror - turned upside down! And that time I actually had quite a long queue...Unfortunately I had no idea what I had done, but fortunately the screen was on an arm and could be turned upside down...

[Updated on: Thu, 30 October 2008 13:07]

[Updated on: Thu, 30 October 2008 13:49]

Loramir wrote on Thu, 30 October 2008 17:58

We've finally been getting some slightly frosty nights, which in the hot and humid South is saying something. My mom keeps rushing out to cover up her vegetable garden every night. Quote: . . . That reminds me, the second lot of membership cards have only very (embarrassingly) recently gone out. It's perfect timing, actually! I got mine today, 2 days before my birthday I was so excited to see it in the mail that I shrieked and scared my poor dog, who was riding in the car with me (her favorite thing to do), to death. I didn't send an email, as I'm sure Robin gets plenty, so I'll say it here and hope she sees it: Thanks so much! Getting my beautiful membership card totally made my day! (And can I say again that I am seriously in love with the cover painting of Chalice? I would totally hang it on my wall in poster form, if it were available.) Also: Quote: Perhaps it would be a good idea to have padded klutz club membership cards? How about envelopes that somehow can't give you paper cuts? Made of...cloth, perhaps? I always cut myself on envelopes. I managed not to on this one as I used the letter opener, but usually I try to open them with my hands and invariably cut myself.

Me three, thank you, Robin! Now when I trip over a cat toy, I will do it with the full authorization of Klutz Klub membership.

I'm going to put the bookmark in a plastic bookmark sleeve and add a tassel with some charms - probably recycling the bee and goblet (the closest thing I have to a Chalice) from the book thong I was inspired to make earlier. I wonder if the local bead stores still run to dragon charms...

[Updated on: Fri, 31 October 2008 10:44]